Games controller

ABSTRACT

A game controller for controlling electronic games includes a controller chassis and an actuator system including: an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller chassis; a strike plate coupled to the actuator body; a trigger adjustment system having an arm; and an actuator adjustment control screw received in a screw thread disposed within said arm. A portion of the actuator adjustment control screw may engage with a portion of the strike plate and the portion of the actuator adjustment control screw creates an end stop to limit movement of the actuator body.

FIELD

The invention relates to controllers for controlling the play ofcomputerised games; more particularly, but not exclusively, theinvention relates to an actuator system of a game controller for agaming console.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of gaming consoles currently availablefor operating a video game. For example Microsoft®, Sony® and Nintendo®manufacture the Xbox®, PlayStation® and Wii® gaming consoles,respectively. The gaming consoles typically include a game controller sothat a user can control the operation of the video game.

Some known game controllers include a form of actuator system for theoperation of control of the functions of the video games. Actuators,buttons or other depressible or manually operable devices are typicallyused for controlling discrete actions such as the firing of a weapon orissuing an attack command. It is known to provide a button or actuatorwhich is intended to be operable by the index finger of a user; suchbuttons are commonly known as triggers.

At times, dependent upon the video game being played, it can benecessary to depress the trigger a distance before the triggerinitiation point is reached and the command actually acknowledged. Thisrenders part of the depressing action futile. Likewise, after thecommand has been operated, it is often possible to carry out furtherdepression of the trigger past the trigger initiation point. Thisfurther depression is unnecessary and may also be disadvantageous.

Furthermore, in other situations in some video games, the strength of acommand is increased or decreased in dependence upon how frequently thetrigger is depressed. As such, depressing the trigger the whole distanceis unnecessary and excessive for the command or operation required.

It is desirable to have a controller, particularly for gamingapplications, that is more responsive or has less scope for allowingunnecessary over-movement by the user of the controller.

Due to the rapidly expanding gaming market and development of involvedgames invoking considerable player input, it is desirable for players tobe able to customise their controllers in order to gain increasedcontrol in a variety of gaming circumstances.

The present invention seeks to improve upon, or at least mitigate, someof the problems associated with controllers of the prior art byproviding a game controller which includes an adjustable trigger systemthat has a mechanism to allow the end user to control or recalibrate themaximum and/or minimum trigger positions.

SUMMARY

There are a variety of different commands available for the triggerfunctions of a game controller and the adjustable trigger system of thepresent invention now provides the option to customise the triggersettings in order to suit the individual game at the time of operation.

In some embodiments, the trigger system includes an adjustment to thedepressible range of the trigger so that effectively the trigger isalready, to some degree, “depressed” before any contact is actually madewith the trigger by the operator (player).

In some embodiments, the trigger system includes an adjustment to theextent that the trigger is depressed before no further motion can beeffected by the operator. This removes any unnecessary distance beingtravelled by the trigger, which may be referred to herein as “overtravel”.

The present invention provides a method of controlling both of the abovefeatures simultaneously to limit the amount of depression inflicted onthe trigger without contact; and to limit the range of available motion(i.e. limit over travel) to allow individual users to tailor acontroller to suit their game play and promote optimum performance in avariety of gaming circumstances.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatusfor supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as a game program,for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprising an outercase; at least one depressible trigger mechanism; and a mechanism formanual adjustment of the range of motion of the at least one triggermechanism, said mechanism for manual adjustment being disposed within aninternal volume defined by the outer case of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as agame program for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprisingat least one depressible trigger mechanism and a first mechanism foradjusting a first end stop position of a depressible trigger mechanism.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises a second mechanism for manualadjustment of a second end stop position of the at least one depressibletrigger mechanism.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a gamecontroller for controlling electronic games, the game controllercomprising a housing, at least one depressible trigger body at least inpart exposed relative to the housing, said at least one depressibletrigger body being in operational association with electrical circuitrycontained within the housing, which electrical circuitry is controlledby depression of the at least one depressible trigger body formanipulating electrical outputs of the electrical circuitry forcontrolling electronic games, and the game controller having a mechanismwhich provides for manual adjustment of a depressible range of the atleast one depressible trigger body mechanism.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided agame controller for controlling electronic games comprising:

-   -   a controller chassis and an actuator system including:        -   an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller            chassis;        -   a strike plate coupled to the actuator body;        -   a trigger adjustment system having an arm; and    -   an actuator adjustment control screw received in a bore disposed        within said arm;    -   wherein a portion of the actuator adjustment control screw        engages with a portion of the strike plate and said portion of        the actuator adjustment control screw creates an end stop to        limit movement of the actuator body.

Optionally, the bore comprises an internal screw thread.

Optionally, a portion of said arm forms a second end stop to limitmovement of the actuator body.

Optionally, the game controller comprises an outer case defining a voidand wherein the trigger adjustment system is mounted within the void.

In some embodiments, the game controller comprises a removable coverpanel for accessing and adjusting the trigger adjustment system.

In some embodiments, the game controller comprises an aperture in theouter case for receiving an adjustment tool for adjusting the positionof the control screw of the trigger adjustment system.

Optionally, the actuator body is a trigger button.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is providedan actuator adjustment system for adjusting the range of travel of anactuator in a game controller, the actuator adjustment systemcomprising:

-   -   a base plate for mounting the actuator adjustment system to a        game controller body;    -   a riser coupled to the base plate; and    -   an arm extending from the riser,    -   wherein the arm comprises a bore for receiving an actuator        adjustment control screw for adjusting the range of travel of        the actuator and a strike plate for arresting motion of the        actuator.

Optionally, the bore comprises an internal screw thread.

According to still yet another aspect of the invention there is providedan apparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as agame program, for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprisingan outer case having a removable cover portion; at least one depressibletrigger device; and a mechanism for manual adjustment of a range ofmotion of the at least one depressible trigger device, said mechanismbeing mounted to an internal surface of the removable cover portion,such that when the removable cover portion is coupled to the apparatusthe mechanism is disposed within an internal volume defined by the outercase of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a gamecontroller for controlling electronic games comprising:

-   -   a controller chassis and an actuator system including:        -   an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller            chassis;        -   a strike plate coupled to the actuator body;        -   a removable cover portion mountable to the controller            chassis, the removable cover portion comprising:        -   a trigger adjustment system having a housing; and        -   an actuator adjustment control screw received in a bore            disposed within said housing;    -   wherein a portion of the actuator adjustment control screw        engages with a portion of the strike plate and said portion of        the actuator adjustment control screw creates a first end stop        to limit movement of the actuator body.

Optionally, a portion of said housing forms a second end stop to limitmovement of the actuator body.

Optionally, the game controller comprises an aperture in the removablecover portion for receiving an adjustment tool for adjusting the triggeradjustment system.

According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of adjusting the range of movement of an actuator on a gamecontroller for controlling electronic games, the method comprising:

(i) providing a game controller including:

-   -   a controller chassis;    -   an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller chassis;    -   a strike plate coupled to the actuator body;    -   an actuator adjustment system; and    -   an actuator adjustment control screw received in a screw thread        disposed within said actuator adjustment system, wherein a        portion of the actuator adjustment control screw engages with a        portion of the strike plate and said portion of the actuator        adjustment control screw creates an end stop to limit the        actuator movement, and

(ii) rotating said trigger adjustment control screw to adjust theposition of said end stop.

Optionally, the game controller includes a removable cover panel, andthe method comprises: removing the removable cover panel to gain accessto the trigger adjustment control screw.

Optionally, the game controller includes a removable cover panel, andthe method comprises: removing the removable cover panel to remove thetrigger adjustment system.

Alternatively, the game controller includes a removable cover panel, andthe method comprises: removing the removable cover panel to remove thetrigger adjustment system.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged and intended thatthe various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternativesset out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in thefollowing description and drawings may be taken independently or in anycombination thereof. For example, features described in connection withone embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there isincompatibility of features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a controller for a games console;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the controller of FIG. 1 showing aremovable cover portion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below of an internal surface of theremovable cover portion shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of a portion of the controllerof FIG. 1 in which the removable cover portion has been removed toexpose the trigger mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 6showing the range of motion of the trigger mechanism in an exemplaryimplementation of the use of the range of motion;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of a portion of the controllerof FIG. 1 in which the removable cover portion has been removed toexpose a trigger adjustment mechanism according to a first embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 10A is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism for adjustingtrigger travel motion;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the mechanism for adjusting triggertravel motion;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 6including the mechanism for adjusting trigger travel motion wherein thetrigger body is illustrated in a first position;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 6including the mechanism for adjusting trigger travel motion wherein thetrigger body is illustrated in a second position;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a portion of the controller of FIG. 6including the removable cover portion;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative mechanism for adjustingtrigger travel motion according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the alternative mechanism for adjustingtrigger travel motion of FIG. 14 showing an adjustment device;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the alternative mechanism for adjustingtrigger travel motion of FIG. 14 showing an optional end stop device;and

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 14including the mechanism for adjusting trigger travel motion wherein thetrigger body is illustrated in a depressed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of game controllers andtrigger mechanisms are disclosed herein. It will be understood that thedisclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certainaspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent anexhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied.Indeed, it will be understood that the game controllers and triggermechanisms described herein may be embodied in various and alternativeforms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may beexaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components.Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarilydescribed in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the presentdisclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a controller 1 according to anembodiment of the invention. The controller 1 comprises a mechanism foradjusting trigger travel motion; both the start position and the endposition of the trigger movement are adjusted by the mechanism.

The controller 1 comprises an arrangement of game controls that aremounted on the front and top of the controller 1. The controller 1comprises a left analogue thumb stick 2 and a right analogue thumb stick3. The left analogue thumb stick 2 and the right analogue thumb stick 3normally control movement actions and are intended to be operated by theuser's left and right thumbs respectively. The controller 1 comprisesfour buttons 4, located on a front-right portion of the controller 1,which normally control additional in-game actions and that are intendedto be operated by the user's right thumb. The controller 1 comprises adirection pad 5 located on the lower portion of the front-left of thecontroller 1. The direction pad 5 is intended to be operated by theuser's left thumb, and typically is used as either an alternative to theleft thumb stick 2 or to provide additional actions. The controller 1also comprises a left trigger body 6, a right trigger body 7, a leftbumper 8 and a right bumper 9 located on the front edge of thecontroller 1. The left and right trigger bodies 6, 7 are typicallyoperated by a user's index or forefingers. The left and right bumpers 8,9 may also be operated by a user's index or forefingers. It will beunderstood that the arrangement of game controls illustrated in respectof the present embodiment is optional and may vary in other gamescontrollers embodying the present invention, which may be applied to avariety of depressible triggers and actuators as described below.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the controller of FIG. 1. It can beseen that the left trigger body 6 is mounted below the left bumper 8 andthe right trigger body 7 is mounted below the right bumper 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the controller 1 comprises a removablecover portion 10 which is detachably coupled to a base chassis member14. The base chassis member 14 is coupled to a top panel 12.

The base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12 define a void ‘V’ inwhich a printed circuit board (not shown) is located. The printedcircuit board comprises control electronics (not shown) to which thecontrols 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the controller 1 are coupled. Aninner chassis member (not shown) is provided in the void ‘V’; theprinted circuit board is fixed to the inner chassis member.

The base chassis member 14 comprises a cutaway or recess 16 (see FIGS. 4and 6) disposed at a front edge thereof. The recess 16 is adjacent to,or facing at least in part, a rear edge 17 of the left trigger 6. Afixing device 13 in the form of a screw is disposed in the recess 16 andsecures the base chassis member 14 to the top panel 12. Optionally, theprinted circuit board and the inner chassis member are disposed betweenthe base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12 and are secured inposition by the fixing device 13. The fixing device 13 passes through anaperture or cutaway provided in the recess 16, through apertures in eachof the printed circuit board and the inner chassis member, and into aclosed or concealed bore defined within the top panel 12. By ‘concealedbore’, it is meant that the bore does not pass through the top panel 12.

A limb 18 extends from the rear of the left trigger 6 into the void ‘V’between the base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12. The limb 18comprises a magnet 30 (see FIG. 7) attached thereto. The controller 1determines, senses, or otherwise detects, the position of the magnet 30relative to a sensor (not shown) that is provided on the printed circuitboard (or in the void ‘V’) to determine the position or orientation, orto sense movement of, the left trigger body 6.

A front edge 15 of the base chassis member 14 defines an end stop whichlimits the movement of the left trigger 6. The front edge 15 of the basechassis member 14 may comprise a cushion member 56 to soften the impactof the left trigger body 6 at the end stop. In such an arrangement, theend stop position of the left trigger body 6 may actually be defined bya part of the cushion member 56. The left trigger body 6 is pivotally orrotationally mounted to the inner chassis member, or in alternativeembodiments to the top panel 12. The left trigger body 6 is resilientlybiased to return to a start position. Together the left trigger body 6,its pivotal mount to the inner chassis and/or the resilient bias, may bereferred to herein as, a depressible trigger mechanism.

FIG. 5 shows an internal surface of the removable portion 10. Theremovable portion 10 forms a grip or handle portion of the controller 1.The inner surface comprises a plurality of locating devices 44A, 44B,which facilitate correct alignment of the removable portion 10 with thebase chassis member 14. The inner surface also comprises a plurality ofribs 42. Ribs 42 provide strength to the removable portion 10 and aid inalignment of the removable portion 10 to the base chassis member 14. Theinner surface also comprises a plurality of protrusions 40A, 40B, 40C,40D, 40E, 40F, 40G. Each of the plurality of protrusions 40A, 40B, 40C,40D, 40E, 40F, 40G forms a first part of a complementary lockingmechanism for locking the removable portion 10 to the base chassismember 14. The base chassis member 14 comprises a plurality of secondparts of the complementary locking mechanism, optionally in the form ofapertures, recesses or cut away portions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a typical use of the range of motion of the triggermechanism in a gaming application such as a combat style game. Thetrigger body 6 has a start position ‘S’. The trigger body 6 must bemoved through a first zone ‘DZ’, a dead zone in which no commands areinitiated or issued. Once the trigger body 6 reaches the position ‘CI’command actions begin to be issued. The trigger body 6 then movesthrough an active region ‘AR’ in which further command actions arecarried out which effect game play. Once the trigger body 6 reaches theposition ‘CT’, no further commands are initiated or issued. The triggerbody 6 then enters an over travel zone ‘OT’ in which no commands areinitiated or issued. The over travel zone ‘OT’ is another ‘dead zone’and spans from position ‘CT’ until the trigger body 6 reaches the endstop ‘E’, at which point the movement of the trigger body 6 is arrestedby the front edge 15 of the base chassis member 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 12 there is shown a first embodiment of atrigger adjustment system 20 that has a mechanism to allow the end userto control or recalibrate the range of motion of the trigger body of theleft trigger mechanism. It will be appreciated that the trigger body 7of a right trigger mechanism can be controlled or recalibrated byemploying a system substantially similar to that described in relationto the left trigger mechanism and left trigger body 6, albeit in amirror image form thereof.

The trigger adjustment system 20 comprises a base plate 44 in which abore or aperture 46 is defined. The aperture 46 is configured to receivea fixing device 13 in the form of a screw or bolt. The triggeradjustment system 20 comprises a side wall or riser 48. The riser 48 andbase plate 44 are configured to be received in the recess 16 defined inthe base chassis member 14. The trigger adjustment system 20 comprisesan arm 50 which extends from the riser 48; optionally the arm 50 extendsfrom an upper end of the riser 48.

The arm 50 is arranged such that it extends between the rear edge 17 ofthe left trigger body 6 and the front edge 15 of the base chassis member14.

The arm 50 comprises an aperture 52 which defines a bore. Optionally thebore comprises an internal screw thread for receiving a control screw24. The control screw 24 is also referred to herein as a triggeradjustment control screw 24. In some embodiments control screw 24 takesthe form of a grub screw; in other embodiments the control screw 24comprises a head preventing the entire control screw 24 from passingthrough the arm 50. In other embodiments the control screw 24 maycomprise other means for mechanically locating it within the aperture 52at a selected location and, as such, the internal form of aperture 52and/or the control screw 24 may have forms other than a conventionalscrew-type format.

As shown in FIG. 11, the position of the control screw 24 adjusts thestart position of the trigger body 6. As indicated by direction narrowD1, the control screw 24 can be rotated to adjust the extent to whichthe control screw 24 passes through the arm 50. The lower end of thecontrol screw 24 is brought into contact with the upper surface of thelimb 18. As the control screw 24 is tightened into the aperture 52, theleft trigger body 6 is pivoted about the pivot point 34 and is preventedfrom returning to the original start position, which original startposition ‘S’ is shown in FIG. 7.

The arm 50 comprises a front edge 15A which provides an end stop for therange of motion of the left trigger body 6. FIG. 11 illustrates the lefttrigger body 6 in a first position; the first position is an initialstart position in which the trigger body 6 is in an undepressed state.The left trigger body 6 is resiliently biased by a bias mechanism suchas a spring to return to the first position. The front edge 15A ispositioned closer to the rear edge of the left trigger body 6 than theposition of the front edge 15 of the base chassis member 14. In this waythe range of motion of the trigger body 6 is reduced or shortened. Inthis way the trigger adjustment system 20 adjusts the extent to whichthe left trigger body 6 can be depressed by a user. Hence, the degree ofrotation of the left trigger body 6 about the pivot point 34 isrestricted or reduced.

FIG. 12 illustrates the left trigger body 6 in a second position. Thesecond position is a terminal position in which the left trigger body 6is in a new, fully depressed state. The motion, indicated by directionarrow D2, of the left trigger body 6 has been arrested or ceased by thefront edge 15A of the arm 50, which may be referred to as a second endstop. Optionally, the arm 50 comprises a cushion member 56 for softeningthe impact between the trigger body 6 and the trigger adjustment system20. As such, the second end stop may be provided by the cushion member56.

In this embodiment the thread for receiving the control screw 24 is cutinto the arm 50 of the trigger adjustment system 20. In otherembodiments it would be possible to use a threaded insert in the arm 50.

Optionally, the position of the left trigger body 6 is adjusted by useof a specified tool that is provided to turn the control screw 24.

One advantage of the trigger adjustment system 20 of the presentdisclosure is that it allows adjustments to be made to the triggermechanism's response characteristics. Further advantageously, theadjustment is not restricted to a factory calibration, but rather can becustomised to suit the nature of the video game that is in use at thetime of operation, and/or to suit the skill and preferences of theoperator. For example in combat style games involving a shootingfunction it is often the case that a trigger needs to be depressed by acertain amount before any fire command is prompted. The provision of amechanism for manual adjustment of a range of motion of a depressibletrigger mechanism as herein described enables the range of motion to bereduced. The control screw 24 can be adjusted so that the fire commandis prompted within a shorter (desired) amount of depression of thetrigger body 6; this may be referred to a “hair trigger”. Thisadjustment can be made by using the required tool (for example an Allenkey, or hex or star driver, cross head or flat head screwdriver, spanneror wrench) to turn the control screw 24, thereby driving it into or outof the arm 50 by virtue of the threaded insert or screw thread locatedtherewithin.

After reaching or passing the command initiation point ‘CI’ no furthercommands are initiated by further movement of the left trigger body 6.The width of the arm 50 (and cushion 56 if provided) controls the degreeof trigger body depression beyond the command initiation point ‘CI’. Thearm 50 restricts the amount of over travel available to the left triggerbody 6 and may be referred to as a “trigger stop”. The arm 50 impedesthe movement of the left trigger body 6, since the rear edge 17 of theleft trigger body 6 strikes the front edge 15A of the arm 50 (or cushionmember 56 when present).

Adjustment of the range of motion of the trigger body 6 directly relatesto control of game play and is especially relevant to the majority ofcombat style games or other varieties of firing operations in videogames. The present invention nevertheless finds advantageous applicationin a variety of other video game genres but for the simplicity of thisdisclosure reference is made to combat style games.

A further advantage of the trigger adjustment system 20 of the presentdisclosure is that it minimises the amount of motion an operator'sfinger must travel, therefore minimising the recovery time after atrigger initiation command has been made, thus allowing the operator tocommence the command prompt again and again more rapidly, or to operatedifferent commands more quickly. The movement that is required tooperate commands by depressing the left trigger body 6 is reduced andtherefore risks associated with repetitive strain injury acquired due tothe repeated movement of the operator's finger when operating thetrigger mechanism may be greatly reduced.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 13, the cover portion 10comprises an access device in the form of an aperture 22, or ‘throughhole’, which passes through the cover portion 10. The aperture 22 isconfigured such that it aligns with the control screw 24. In this waythe operator can insert a tool through the aperture 22 and engage thecontrol screw 24 to adjust the range of movement of the left triggerbody 6 without the need to remove the cover portion 10. In otherembodiments the cover portion 10 clips onto the base chassis member 14by mechanical clips integrally formed therewith. The clips have a barbat one end to engage with a receiver. The cover portion 10 may bedetached to adjust the control screw 24 or to remove the triggeradjustment system 20 to restore the full range of motion of the triggerbody. Beneficially, therefore, the operator has full control over themanner in which his game controller operates.

FIGS. 14 to 17 illustrate a trigger adjustment system 120 according to asecond embodiment. In the second illustrated embodiment, like numeralshave, where possible, been used to denote like parts, albeit with theaddition of the prefix “100” to indicate that these features belong tothe second embodiment. The additional illustrated embodiment shares manycommon features with the first embodiment and therefore only thedifferences from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13 will bedescribed in any greater detail.

The cover portion 110 comprises a protrusion which forms a housing 150for mounting a control screw 124 (see FIG. 15). The housing 150comprises an aperture or bore 152 therethrough. The bore 152 extendsfrom an outer surface of the cover portion 110 through to an innersurface thereof. Optionally, the bore 152 comprises an internal screwthread for mating with an external thread of the control screw 124. Insome embodiments the control screw 124 may comprise a self-tapping screwthread and cuts into the material forming the bore 152. The coverportion 110 is optionally manufactured from a plastic material and insuch embodiments an insert may be placed into the bore 152, the insertcomprising an internal screw thread for receiving the control screw 124.The insert may be manufactured from a different material such as, butnot limited to, metal. Optionally, the housing 150 is integrally mouldedwith the cover portion 110. In other embodiments the control screw 124may comprise other means for being mechanically located at one of arange of available locations, and the bore 152 or an insert therefor mayhave a corresponding and complementary form.

In alternative embodiments the housing 150 is formed as a separatecomponent and is secured or bonded to the inner surface of the coverportion 110. In such embodiments an aperture is provided in the coverportion 110 and the bore 152 in the separate housing 150 is aligned withthe aperture in the cover portion 110.

Optionally, the trigger adjustment system 120 comprises a cushioningmember or soft end stop 156, and the soft end stop 156 is made from amaterial that is deformable such as, but not limited to, a foam orrubberised material. In this way the soft end stop 156 absorbs some ofthe kinetic energy when the trigger body 106 meets the end stop providedby the front face 154 of the housing 150 as shown in FIG. 17.

Optionally, the trigger adjustment system 120 comprises a strike plate160; the strike plate 160 is mounted to an upper face of the limb 118.The strike plate 160 is optionally formed of a material having ahardness which is equal to or greater than the hardness of the materialforming the control screw 124. In this way the control screw 124 isprevented from deforming or cutting into the limb 118. This avoids thecontrol screw 124 becoming snagged or caught up on the limb 118 andprovides more accurate control over the position of a trigger body, andgreater repeatability.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references suchas “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”,“upper” and “lower” do not necessarily limit the respective features tosuch orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish these featuresfrom one another.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

It will be recognised that the provision of a trigger adjustment system20, 120 has been described in the context of a single trigger body 6,106 of a depressible trigger mechanism. It is envisaged that one or moreaspects of the trigger adjustment systems 20, 120 disclosed herein mayfind beneficial application for adjusting the range of travel of avariety of control actuators provided on game controllers including, byway of non-limiting examples, buttons, sticks, bumpers and triggers. Agame controller according to the disclosure may comprise one or moreactuators and as such, one or more trigger adjustment systems. It isenvisaged that in some embodiments a game controller may comprise afirst adjustment system 20, 120 for a first actuator mechanism forrepositioning the first and second end-stop positions of an actuatorbody thereof and may comprise a second adjustment system 20, 120 for asecond actuator mechanism for repositioning first and second end-stoppositions of an actuator body thereof. The first and second adjustmentsystems 20, 120 may be of the same type (albeit optionally differentlyhanded ones) or of different types.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprising an outer case having a removable cover portion; at least one depressible trigger device; and a mechanism for manual adjustment of a range of motion of the at least one depressible trigger device, said mechanism being mounted to an internal surface of the removable cover portion, such that when the removable cover portion is coupled to the apparatus the mechanism is disposed within an internal volume defined by the outer case of the apparatus. 